Mar 1st 2007 - COMMUNITY RADIO STATION SET TO BE BACK ON THE AIR ALL DAY (East Grinstead Courier)

Meridian Fm will return to the town's radio waves in April, it has been confirmed.

The community station, which ran for four weeks in December last year on a Restricted Service Licence, has secured another licence starting on April 22.

There are a few changes in personnel from the station's last on-air incarnation, not least the replacement of breakfast show presenter Katherine Macdonald, who has moved from the area, with erstwhile colleague Richard Wright.

And with online streaming, the station will be broadcasting 24 hours a day.

Managing director of the station Lee Quinn said they are still waiting for the frequency, which should be confirmed mid-March.

Speaking of the previous 28-day broadcasting period, he said: "People did make comparisons to commercial radio stations in the area and we are still used by local businesses but we are not commercial."

He said the money raised through advertising went towards buying and hiring equipment and the money needed to cover the time the station is off air.

The timing of the latest licence is designed to include some of the major spring events in the town like the East Grinstead Lions' May Fair and the Sunshine Sevens at the rugby club.

The station is once again asking anyone interested in getting involved to step forward. Among the new recruits needed are some new voices to join Richard Wright as a "breakfast crew" on his morning show.

Mr Quinn said: "Many of the presenters will be returning to the airwaves and with extended hours we will create an even bigger team. It is anticipated that we need about 100 people to resource the station from the community as it aims to raise the bar and be more professional than it was in its first licence in 2006."

Mr Quinn invited anyone interested in joining the Meridian FM team to e-mail admin@meridianfm.com .

Sponsors and advertisers are asked to contact sales@meridianfm.com